As I mentioned in my last post I am frantically trying to sew things for our forthcoming trip to India and I have also, finally, started to make a dress for the PTA ball I am attending in a couple of weeks time. More on that to follow. Today’s outfit was sewn because I thought it would be good to travel in: the viscose pants and top will keep me cool when we reach warmer climes but covered up at the same time, and I thought the ponte blazer again might be good to travel with on the plane (don’t know about you but I always find the a/c on planes too much). Something I have realised is, if I am sewing separates, I have to make sure I have something appropriate to wear to complete the outfit; otherwise the separate piece just doesn’t get worn!

As time is ticking, I decided to sew patterns I have sewn before. Minimum fit problems! So, the patterns I used were:

(OOP) McCalls 6291 for the printed pants. This is actually the third time I have made this pattern (a personal record for someone who doesn’t go back to a pattern all that often), and I think this time I have perfected the fit. Version 1 here; version 2 here. This time round I shaved a further 0.5 inch off each inner and outer seam, front and back i.e. 2 inches in total – this means I have now removed a total of 10 inches from each leg from version 1! I also raised the front crotch by a futher 0.5 inches from last time. This is a viscose print fabric purchased locally to me, and I have cut the fabric on the cross grain to make the pattern run lengthwise down the leg – less headache pattern matching and more flattering IMO. I also made the hem on this version slightly smaller; turning over 0.25 inch and then 5/8 inch.

McCalls 6991 for the crossover wrap top. You can see the first version of this top here. This time I essentially made View A, but added the sleeves from View B and the tabs from View C. No other changes were made. The fabric is another viscose, purchased from Minerva Fabrics in the UK. I cannot vouch for the other colours of plain viscose in this range, but this red is amazing. Washes, drapes, sews and presses beautifully and is fabulous to wear. Plus Red. Uhuh. Wearing red makes me feel happy. I used gold buttons on the sleeve tabs to up the glam factor.

Butterick 5926 for the ponte blazer (fabric purchased on ebay). First version of this blazer was blogged here. No changes to the fit. To be honest, when I finished this blazer I was a bit meh about it. I had been so tempted to download the new Grainline Morris blazer but I just didn’t want the extra time taken on a completely new to me garment. However, I must say I have worn this blazer already, including for a full day trip on the train to see an old friend, and it is very comfortable. I think it’s the very (intentionally) bland colour that made me feel meh, and the facings are a bit skimpy but I think I will probably end up wearing this a lot. BTW, I used Craftsy’s Modern Jacket Techniques to learn how to sew a notched collar properly and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I will definitely be making myself a woven blazer in future using this class.

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I love to shop, but I also love to sew my own clothes, and am currently on a mission to improve my (fairly basic) dressmaking skills. I confess to going into shops and being outraged at the prices of some (not very well made) garments (is it an age thing?) and think "huh, I could make some thing at least as good as that for less" (is it something to do with coming from the Indian subcontinent?) So this blog details my sewing endeavours, both good and bad....I love to nosey through other people's sewing projects....now everyone can get to see mine.

Oh, I love this whole outfit – so chic, flattering, and comfortable, too! I don’t often repeat patterns either, but I see that it pays: while I love all your pants versions, this third one is definitely my favorite.

what a great outfit and love the colors on you. I especially like the choice of that fabric for the pants, the print gives a great verticality and I would never have thought of it for pants but it works perfectly.

I think this outfit is my favorite set of things you’ve made! I love it so much together!… I guess that’s the whole point of sewing, to make things but have them work together to pull together a fabulous look!

I love that outfit and those pants are wonderful! You are right – I need to plan more outfits rather than just pieces, because nothing goes with anything else! I’m inspired by you and think I might tackle proper pants this fall….